HOWDY,  HONEY 
HOWDY 


HOWDY 
HONEY 
HOWDY 


PAUL  LAURENCE  DUNBAR 


Illustrated  with  photographs 


LEIGH  RICHMOND  MINER 


Decorations  by 
WILL  JENKINS 


DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 
NEW  YORK  •  MCMV 


Copyright  1896,  1899,  1903,  and  1905 

BY  DODD,   MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

Published  October,  1905 


CONTENTS 


HOWDY,   HONEY,    HOWDY.     .  7 

ENCOURAGEMENT     .....  13 

DE   WAY   TINGS   COME    ...  19 

THE   DELINQUENT    .....  23 

ACCOUNTABILITY      .....  29 

PROTEST    .........  33 

POSSUM       .........  39 

FOOLIN'   WID   DE   SEASONS      .  43 

ANGELINA      ........  49 

A   DEATH   SONG    ......  57 

A   CHRISTMAS   FOLKSONG    .     .  61 

FAITH     ..........  69 

HOPE       ..........  73 

A   LOVE   LETTER  ......  77 

PUTTIN1  THE   BABY   AWAY     .  83 

ADVICE  ..........  89 

DREAMIN1   TOWN       .....  95 

SCAMP    ..........  101 

OPPORTUNITY  .......  105 

A   SUMMER   NIGHT  .....  Ill 

THE   OLD   CABIN  117 


a 


HOWDY,  HONEY 
HOWDY 


Do 


a-stan'in'  on  ajar,  fiah  a-shinin' 


thoo, 
Ol'  folks   drowsin'  'roun'   de   place, 

wide  awake  is  Lou, 
Wen  I  tap,  she  answah,  an'  I  see 

huh  'mence  to  grin, 
"  Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you 

step  right  in  ?  " 

Den  I  step  erpon  de  log  layin'  at 

de  do', 
Bless  de  Lawd,  huh  mammy  an'  huh 

pap 's  done  'menced  to  sno', 
Now 's  de  time,  ef  evah,  ef  I 's  gwine 

to  try  an'  win, 
"  Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you 

step  right  in  ? " 


No  use  playin'  on  de  aidge,  trimblin' 

on  de  brink, 
Wen  a  body  love  a  gal,  tell   huh 

whut  he  t'ink ; 
Wen  huh  hea't  is  open  fu'  de  love 

you  gwine  to  gin, 
Pull  yo'se'f  togethah,  suh,  an'  step 

right  in. 

Sweetes'  imbitation  dat  a  body  evah 

hyeahed, 
Sweetah  den  de  music  of  a  love-sick 

mockin'-bird, 
Comin'  f 'om  de  gal  you  loves  bettah 

den  yo'  kin, 
"  Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you 

step  right  in  ? " 

At  de  gate  o'  heaven  w'en  de  sto'm 

o'  life  is  pas', 
'Spec'   I'll    be   a-stan'in',    'twell   de 

Mastah  say  at  las', 
"  Hyeah  he  stan'  all  weary,  but  he 

winned  his  fight  wid  sin. 
Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you 

step  right  in?" 


v 


ENCOURAGEMENT 


WHO  dat  knockin'  at  de  do'  ? 
Why,  Ike  Johnson,  —  yes,  fu'  sho  ! 
Come  in,  Ike.     I 's  mighty  glad 
You  come  down.     I  fought  you 's 

mad 

At  me  'bout  de  othah  night, 
An'  was  stayin'  'way  fu'  spite. 
Say,  now,  was  you  mad  fu'  true 
Wen  I  kin'  o'  laughed  at  you  ? 
Speak  up,  Ike,  an'  'spress  yo'se'f. 

'T  ain't  no  use  a-lookin'  sad, 
An'  a-mekin'  out  you  's  mad  ; 
Ef  you 's  gwine  to  be  so  glum, 
Wondah  why  you  evah  come. 
I  don't  lak  nobody  'roun' 
Dat  jes'  shet  dey  mouf  an'  frown,  - 
Oh,  now,  man,  don't  act  a  dunce  ! 
Cain't  you  talk  ?     I  tol'  you  once, 
Speak  up,  Ike,  an'  'spress  yo'se'f. 


I 


Wha  'd  you  come  hyeah  fu'  to-night 
Body  'd  t'ink  yo'  haid  ain't  right. 
I 's  done  all  dat  I  kin  do,  - 
Dressed  perticler,  jes'  fu'  you  ; 
Reckon  I  'd  'a'  bettah  wo' 
My  ol'  ragged  calico. 
Aftah  all  de  pains  I 's  took, 
Cain't  you  tell  me  how  I  look  ? 
Speak  up,  Ike,  an'  'spress  yo'se'f. 

Bless  my  soul !     I  'mos'  fu'got 
Tellin'  you  'bout  Tildy  Scott. 
Don't  you  know,  come  Thu'sday 

night, 

She  gwine  ma'y  Lucius  White  ? 
Miss  Lize  say  I  allus  wuh 
Heap  sight  laklier  'n  huh  ; 
An'  she  11  git  me  somep'n  new, 
Ef  I  wants  to  ma'y  too. 

Speak  up,  Ike,  an'  'spress  yo'se'f. 


m 


I  could  ma'y  in  a  week, 
Ef  de  man  I  wants  'ud  speak. 
Tildy's  presents  11  be  fine, 
But  dey  would  n't  ekal  mine. 
Him  whut  gits  me  fu'  a  wife 
'LI  be  proud,  you  bet  yo'  life. 
I 's  had  offers  ;  some  ain't  quit ; 
But  I  has  n't  ma'ied  yit ! 

Speak  up,  Ike,  an'  'spress  yo'se'f. 

Ike,  I  loves  you,  —  yes,  I  does  ; 
You  's  my  choice,  and  allus  was. 
Laffin'  at  you  ain't  no  harm.  - 
Go  'way,  dahky,  whaih  's  yo'  arm  ? 
Hug  me  closer  —  dah,  dat  's  right ! 
Wasn't  you  a  awful  sight, 
Havin'  me  to  baig  you  so  ? 
Now  ax  whut  you  want  to  know,  - 
Speak  up,  Ike,  an'  'spress  yo'se'f! 


DE  WAY  T'INGS 
COME 

S3B 


JjE   way   t'ings   come,   hit    seems 

to  me, 

Is  des'  one  monst'ous  mystery ; 
De  way  hit  seem  to  strike  a  man, 
Dey  ain't  no  sense,  dey  ain't  no  plan  ; 
Ef  trouble  sta'ts  a  pilin'  down, 
It  ain't  no  use  to  rage  er  frown, 
It  ain't  no  use  to  strive  er  pray, 
Hit 's  mortal  boun'  to  come  dat  way. 

Now,  ef  you 's  hongry,  an'  yo'  plate 
Des'  keep  on  sayin'  to  you,  "  Wait," 
Don't  mek  no  diffunce  how  you  feel, 
'T  won't  do  no  good  to  hunt  a  meal, 
Fu'  dat  ah  meal  des'  boun'  to  hide 
Ontwell  de  devil 's  satisfied, 
An'  'twell  dey 's  some'p'n  by  to  cyahve 
You 's  got  to  ease  yo'se'f  an'  stahve. 


But  ef  dey's  co'n  meal  on  de  she'f 
You  need  n't  bothah  'roun'  yo'se'f, 
Somebody 's  boun'  to  amble  in 
An'  'vite  you  to  dey  co'n  meal  bin  ; 
An'  ef  you 's  stuffed  up  to  de  froat 
Wid  co'n  er  middlin',  fowl  er  shoat, 
Des'  look  out  an'  you  '11  see  fu'  sho 
A  'possum  faint  befo'  yo'  do'. 


E 


De  way  t'ings  happen,  huhuh,  chile, 
Dis  woiT  's   done  puzzled   me  one 

w'ile ; 

I 's  mighty  skeered  I  '11  fall  in  doubt, 
T  des'  won't  try  to  reason  out 
De  reason  why  folks  strive  an'  plan 
A  dinnah  fu'  a  full-fed  man, 
An'  shet  de  do'  an'  cross  de  street 
F'om  one  dat  raaly  needs  to  eat. 


vs» 

ffi 


THE  DELINQUENT 


CrOO'-BY,  Jinks,  I  got  to  hump, 
Got  to  mek  dis  pony  jump  ; 
See  dat  sun  a-goin'  down 
'N'  rne  a-foolin'  hyeah  in  town  ! 
Git  up,  Suke  —  go  long  ! 

Guess  Mirandy  '11  think  I 's  tight, 
Me  not  home  an'  comin'  on  night. 
What's  dat  stan'in'  by  de  fence  ? 
Pshaw  !  why  don't  I  lu'n  some  sense  ? 
Git  up,  Suke  —  go  long  ! 

Guess  I  spent  down  dah  at  Jinks' 
Mos'  a  dollah  fu'  de  drinks. 
Bless  yo'  soul,  you  see  dat  star  ? 
Lawd,  but  won't  Mirandy  rar  ? 
Git  up,  Suke  —  go  long  ! 


Went  dis  mo'nin',  hyeah  it's  night, 
Dah  's  de  cabin  dah  in  sight. 
Who 's  dat  stan'in'  in  de  do'  ? 
Dat  must  be  Mirandy,  sho', 
Git  up,  Suke  —  go  long  ! 


Got  de  close-stick  in  huh  han', 
Dat  look  funny,  goodness  Ian', 
Sakes  alibe,  but  she  look  glum ! 
Hyeah,  Mirandy,  hyeah  I  come ! 

Git  up,  Suke  —  go  long  ! 
Ef  't  had  n't  <  a '  ben  fur  you,  you 
slow  ole  fool,  I  'd  a'  be'n  home  long 
fo'  now ! 


ACCOUNTABILITY 


JT  OLKS  ain't  got  no  right  to  cen- 
suah  othah  folks  about  dey 
habits ; 

Him  dat  giv'  de  squir'ls  de  bushtails 
made  de  bobtails  fu'  de  rabbits. 

Him  dat  built  de  gread  big  moun- 
tains hollered  out  de  little 
valleys, 

Him  dat  made  de  streets  an'  drive- 
ways wasn't  shamed  to  make 
de  alleys. 

We  is  all  constructed  diiF'ent,  d'ain't 

no  two  of  us  de  same  ; 
We  cain't  he'p  ouah  likes  an'  dislikes, 

ef  we  'se  bad  we  ain't  to  blame. 
Ef  we  'se  good,  we  need  n't  show  off, 

case  you  bet  it  ain't  ouah  doin' 
We  gits  into  su'ttain  channels  dat  we 

jes'  cain't  he'p  pu'suin'. 


But  we  all  fits  into  places  dat  no 

othah  ones  could  fill, 
An'  we  does  the  things  we  has  to, 

big  er  little,  good  er  ill. 
John  cain't  tek  de  place  o'  Henry, 

Su  an'  Sally  ain't  alike  ; 
Bass  ain't  nuthin'  like  a  suckah,  chub 

ain't  nuthin'  like  a  pike. 


- 

Wen  you  come   to  t'ink  about  it, 

how  it's  all   planned   out   it's 

splendid. 
Nothin  's  done  er  evah  happens,  'dout 

hit 's  somefin'  dat  's  intended  ; 
Don't  keer  whut  you  does,  you  has  to, 

an'  hit  sholy  beats  de  dickens,  - 
Viney,  go  put  on  de  kittle,  I  got  one 

o'  mastah's  chickens. 


PROTEST 


WHO  say  my  haht  ain't  true  to 

you? 

Dey  bettah  heish  dey  mouf. 
I  knows  I  loves  you  thoo  an'  thoo 

In  watah  time  er  drouf. 
I  wush   dese   people  'd   stop  dey 

talkin', 
Don't  mean  no  mo'  dan  chicken's 

squawkin' : 
I   guess    I   knows  which  way  I 's 

walkin', 
I  knows  de  norf  f  om  souf. 

I  does  not  love  Elizy  Brown, 
I  guess  I  knows  my  min'. 

You  allus  try  to  tek  me  down 
Wid  evaht'ing  you  fin'. 


nonsense 
willin' 

some  day  dey  '11 
Somewhaih 


O'  cose  I  buys  de  gal  ice-cream, 
Whut  else  I  gwine  to  do  ? 

I  knows  jes'  how  de  t'ing  'u'd  seem 
Ef  I  'd  be  sho't  wid  you. 

On    Sunday,   you's   at   chu'ch   a- 
shoutin', 

Den  all  de   week   you   go   'roun' 
poutin'  — 

I 's  mighty  tiahed  o'  all  dis  doubtin', 
1  tell  you  cause  I 's  true. 


POSSUM 


rLF  dey  's  anyt'ing  dat  riles  me 

An'  jes'  gits  me  out  o'  hitch, 
Twell  I  want  to  tek  my  coat  off, 

So 's  to  r'ar  an'  far  an'  pitch, 
Hit 's  to  see  some  ign'ant  white  man 

'Mittin'  dat  owdacious  sin  — 
Wen  he  want  to  cook  a  possum 

Tekin'  off  de  possum's  skin. 


1 


Wy,  dey  ain't  no  use  in  talkin', 

Hit  jes'  hu'ts  me  to  de  haht 
Fu'  to  see  dem  foolish  people 

Th'owin'  'way  de  fines'  paht. 
W'y,  dat  skin  is  jes'  ez  tendah 

An'  ez  juicy  ez  kin  be  ; 
I  knows  all  erbout  de  critter  — 

Hide  an'  haih  —  don't  talk  to  me ! 

Possum  skin  is  jes'  lak  shoat  skin  ; 

Jes'  you  swinge  an'  scrope  it  down, 
Tek  a  good  sha'p  knife  an'  sco'  it, 

Den  you  bake  it  good  an'  brown. 
Huh-uh  !  honey,  you  's  so  happy 

Dat  yo'  thoughts  is  'mos'  a  sin 
When  you 's  settin'  dah  a-chawin' 

On  dat  possum's  cracklin'  skin. 


m\ 


White  folks  t'nk  dey  know  'bout 
eatin', 

An'  I  reckon  dat  dey  do 
Sometimes  git  a  little  idee 

Of  a  miedlin'  dish  er  two  ; 
But  dey  ain't  a  t'ing  dey  knows  of 

Dat  I  rekon  cain't  be  beat 
W'en  we  set  down  at  de  table 

To  a  unskun  possum's  meat ! 


SSs 


FOOLIN'   WID  DE 
SEASONS 


?S: 

3 


SEEMS  lak  folks  is  mighty  curus 
In  de  way  dey  t'inks  an'  ac's. 
Dey  jes'  spen's  dey  days  a-mixin' 

Up  de  t'ings  in  almanacs. 
Now, I  min'  my nex'  do'  neighbour,— 

He  's  a  mighty  likely  man, 
But  he  nevah  t'inks  o'  nuffin 

'Ceptin'  jes'  to  plot  an'  plan. 

All  de  wintah  he  was  plannin' 

How  he  'd  gethah  sassafras 
Jes'  ez  soon  ez  evah  Springtime 

Put  some  greenness  in.de  grass. 
An'  he  lowed  a  little  soonah 

He  could  stan'  a  coolah  breeze 
So  's  to  mek  a  little  money 

F'om  de  sugah-watah  trees. 


Dl 


In  de  summah,  he  'd  be  waihin' 

Out  de  linin'  of  his  soul, 
Try'n'  to  ca'ci'late  an'  fashion 

How  he  'd  git  his  wintah  coal  ; 
An'  I  b'lieve  he  got  his  jedgement 

Jes'  so  tuckahed  out  an'  thinned 
Dat  he  t'ought  a  robin's  whistle 

Was  de  whistle  of  de  wind. 


0 


Why  won't  folks  gin  up  dey  plannin', 

An'  jes'  be  content  to  know 
Dat  dey 's  gittin'  all  dat  's  fu'  dem 

In  de  days  dat  come  an'  go  ? 
Why  won't  folks  quit  movin'  forrard  ? 

Ain't  hit  bettah  jes'  to  stan' 
An'  be  satisfied  wid  livin' 

In  de  season  dat 's  at  han'  ? 

Hit 's  enough  fu'  me  to  listen 

W'en  de  birds  is  singin'  'roun', 
'Dout  a-guessin'  whut  '11  happen 

W'en  de  snow  is  on  de  groun'. 
In  de  Springtime  an'  de  summah, 

I  lays  sorrer  on  de  she'f ; 
An'  I  knows  ol'  Mistah  Wintah 

Gwine  to  hustle  fu'  hisse'f. 


We  been  put  hyeah  fu'  a  pu'pose, 

But  de  questun  dat  has  riz 
An'  made  lots  o'  people  diffah 

Is  jes'  whut  dat  pu'pose  is. 
Now,  accord  in'  to  iny  reas'nin', 

Hyeah 's  de  p'int  whaih  I 's  arriv% 
Sence  de  Lawd  put  life  into  us, 

We  was  put  hyeah  fu'  to  live  ! 


ANGELINA 


\V'EN  de  fiddle  gits  to  singin'  out 

a  ol'  Vahginny  reel, 
An'  you  'nience  to  feel  a  ticklin'  in 

yo'  toe  an'  in  yo'  heel ; 
Ef  you  t'ink  you  got  'uligion  an'  you 

wants  to  keep  it,  too, 
You  jes'  bettah  tek  a  hint  an'  git 

yo'se'f  clean  out  o  view. 
Case  de  time  is  mighty  temptin'  w'en 

de  chune  is  in  de  swing, 
Fu'  a  darky,  saint  or  sinner  man,  to 

cut  de  pigeon-wing. 
An'  you  could  n't  he'p  f  om  dancin9 

ef  yo'  feet  was  boun'  wif  twine, 
W'en    Angelina   Johnson    comes 

a-swingin'  down  de  line. 


Don't   you   know   Miss   Angelina  ? 

She 's  de  da'lin'  of  de  place. 
Wy,  dey  ain't  no  high-toned  lady  wif 

sich  mannahs  an'  sich  grace. 
She  kin  move  across  de  cabin,  wif  its 

planks  all  rough  an'  wo' ; 
Jes'  de  same 's  ef  she  was  dancin'  on 

ol'  mistus'  ball-room  flo'. 


T* 

i 


Fact  is,  you  do'  see  no  cabin  —  evah- 

t'ing  you  see  look  gran', 
An'  dat  one  ol'  squeaky  fiddle  soun' 

to  you  jes'  lak  a  ban' ; 
Cotton  britches  look  lak  broadclof 

an'  a  linsey  dress  look  fine, 
Wen   Angelina    Johnson    comes 

a-swingin'  down  de  line. 


Some  folks  say  dat  dancin  's  sinful, 

an'  de  blessed  Lawd,  dey  say, 
Gwine  to  purnish  us  fu'  steppin'  w'en 

we  hyeah  de  music  play. 
But  I  tell  you  I  don'  blieve  it,  fu' 

de  Lawd  is  wise  and  good, 
An'  he  made  de  banjo's  metal  an'  he 

made  de  fiddle's  wood, 
An'  he  made  de  music  in  dem,  so  1 

don'  quite  t'ink  he'll  keer 
Ef  our  feet  keeps  time  a  little  to  de 

melodies  we  hyeah. 
W'y,  dey's  somep'n'  downright  holy 

in  de  way  our  faces  shine, 
Wen    Angelina    Johnson    comes 

a-swingin'  down  de  line. 


sS> 

3 


Angelina  step'  so  gentle,  Angelina 

bow'  so  low, 
An'  she  lif  huh  sku't  so  dainty  dat 

huh  shoetop  skacely  show  : 
An'  dein  teef  o'  huh'n  a-shinin',  ez 

she  tek  you  by  de  han'  — 
Go  'way,  people,  d'  ain't  anothah  sich 

a  lady  in  de  Ian' ! 
Wen  she's  movin'  thoo  de  figgers 

er  a-dancin'  by  huhse'f, 
Folks  jes'  stan'  stock-still  a-sta'in',  an' 

dey  mos'  nigh  hoi's  dey  bref ; 
An'  de  young  mens,  dey  's  a-sayin', 

"  1  's    gwine    mek    dat   damsel 

mine," 
Wen    Angelina    Johnson    comes 

a-swingin'  down  de  line. 


A  DEATH  SONG 


LAY  me  down  beneaf  de  willers  in 

de  grass, 
Whah  de  branch '11   go  a-singin'  as 

it  pass. 

An'  w'en  I 's  a-layin'  low, 
I  kin  hyeah  it  as  it  go 
Singin',  "  Sleep,  my  honey,  tek  yo' 
res'  at  las'." 

Lay  me  nigh  to  whah  hit  meks  a 

little  pool, 
An'  de  wratah  stan's  so  quiet  lak  an' 

cool, 

Whah  de  little  birds  in  spring, 
Ust  to  come  an'  drink  an'  sing, 
An'  de  chillen  waded  on  dey  way  to 
school. 


Let  me  settle  w'en   my  shouldahs 

draps  dey  load 
Nigh  enough  to  hyeah  de  noises  in 

de  road ; 

Fu'  I  t'ink  de  las'  long  res' 
Gwine  to  soothe  my  sperrit  bes' 
Ef  I 's  layin'  'mong  de  t'ings  I 's  allus 
knowed. 


A  CHRISTMAS 
FOLKSONG 


JjE  win'  is  bio  win'  wahmah, 

An'  hit 's  blowin'  f ' om  de  bay  ; 
Dey 's  a  so't  o'  mist  a-risin' 

All  erlong  de  meddah  way ; 
Dey  ain't  a  hint  o'  frostin' 

On  de  groun'  ner  in  de  sky, 
An'  dey  ain't  no  use  in  hopin' 
Dat  de  snow  '11  'mence  to  fly. 
It 's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas, 

An'  sad  de  day  fu'  me. 

I  wish  dis  was  de  las'  one 

Dat  evah  I  should  see. 


Dey  's  dancin'  in  de  cabin, 

Dey'sspahkin  by  de  tree ; 
But  dancin'  times  an'  spahkin' 

Are  all  done  pas'  fu'  me. 
Dey 's  feastin'  in  de  big  house, 

Wid  all  de  windahs  wide  - 
Is  dat  de  way  fu'  people 
To  meet  de  Christmas-tide  ? 

It 's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas, 

No  mattah  what  you  say. 
Dey 's  us  dat  will  remembah 
An'  grieve  de  comin'  day. 


Dey  's  des  a  bref  o'  dampness 

A-clingin'  to  my  cheek  ; 
De  aih  's  been  dahk  an'  heavy 
An'  threatenin'  fu'  a  week, 
But  not  wid  signs  o'  wintah, 

Dough  wintah  'd  seem  so  deah  - 
De  wintah 's  out  o'  season, 
An'  Christmas  eve  is  hyeah. 

It 's  goin'  to  be  a  green  Christmas, 

An'  oh,  how  sad  de  day ! 
Go  ax  de  hongry  chu'chya'd, 
An'  see  what  hit  will  say. 


B 
IS 


Dey's  Allen  on  de  hillside, 

An'  Marfy  in  de  plain  ; 
Fu'  Christmas  was  like  springtime, 

An'  come  wid  sun  an'  rain. 
Dey's  Ca'line,  John,  an'  Susie, 

Wid  only  dis  one  lef ' ; 
An'  now  de  curse  is  comin' 
Wid  murder  in  hits  bref. 

It '  s  goin'  to  be  a  green  C  hristmas  — 
Des  hyeah  my  words  an'  see  : 
Befo'  de  summah  beckons 
Dey  's  many  '11  weep  wid  me. 


FAITH 


I 'S  a-gittin'  weary  of  de  way  dat 

people  do, 
De  folks  dat 's  got  dey  'ligion  in  dey 

fiah-place  an'  flue  ; 
Dey's  alms  somep'n'  comin'  so  de 

spit  '11  have  to  tu'n, 
An'  hit  tain't  no  p'oposition  fu'  to 

mek  de  hickory  bu'n. 
Ef  de  sweet  pertater  fails  us  an'  de 

go'geous  yallah  yam, 
We  kin  tek  a  bit  o'  comfo't  f'om 

ouah  sto'  o'  summah  jam. 
W'en  de  snow  hit  git  to  flyin',  dat 's 

de  Mastah's  own  desiah, 
De  Lawd'll  run  de  wintah  an'  yo' 

mammy  '11  run  de  fiah. 


I  ain'  skeered  because  de  win'  hit 

staht  to  raih  an'  blow, 
I  ain't  bothahed  w'en  he  come  er 

rattlin'  at  de  do', 
Let   him  taih  hisse'f  an'  shout,  let 

him  blow  an'  bawl, 
Dat  's  de  time  de  branches  shek  an' 

bresh-wood  'mence  to  fall. 
W'en   de   st'om  's    er-railin'   an'   de 

shettahs  bio  win'  'bout, 
Dat  de  time  de  fiah-place  crack  hits 

welcome  out. 
Tain'  my  livin'  business  fu'  to  trouble 

ner  enquiah, 
De  Lawd  '11  min'  de  wintah  an'  my 

mammy  11  min'  de  fiah. 


Ash-cake  allus  gits  ez  brown  w'en 

February's  hyeah 
Ez  it  does  in  bakin'  any  othah  time 

o'  yeah. 
De   bacon   smell  ez  callin'-like,   de 

kittle  rock  an'  sing, 
De  same  way  in  de  wintah  dat  dey 

do  it  in  de  spring ; 
Dey  ain't  no  use  in  mopin'  'round 

an'  lookin'  mad  an'  glum 
Erbout  de  wintah  season,  fu'  hit's 

des  plumb  boun'  to  come  ; 
An'  ef  it  comes  to  runnin'  t'ings  I 's 

willin'  to  retiah, 
De  Lawd  '11  min'  de  wintah  an'  my 

mammy  '11  min'  de  fiah. 


HOPE 


JjE  dog  go  howlin'  'long  de  road, 
De  night  come  shiverin'  down ; 

My  back  is  tiahed  of  its  load, 
I  cain't  be  fu'  f ' om  town. 

No  mattah  ef  de  way  is  long, 

My  haht  is  swellin'  wid  a  song, 
No  mattah  'bout  de  frownin'  skies, 
I  '11  soon  be  home  to  see  my  Lize. 

My  shadder  staggah  on  de  way, 
It 's  monst'ous  col'  to-night ; 

But  I  kin  hyeah  my  honey  say, 
"  W'y,  bless  me  ef  de  sight 

O'  you  ain't  good  fu'  rny  so'  eyes." 

(Dat  talk 's  des  lak  my  lady  Lize) 
I 's  so'y  case  de  way  was  long 
But  Lawd  you  bring  me  love  an' 
song. 


No  mattah  ef  de  way  is  long, 

An'  ef  I  trimbles  so', 
1  knows  de  fiah's  bu'nin'  strong, 

Behime  my  Lizy's  do'. 
An'  daih  my  res'  an'  joy  shell  be, 
Whaih  my  ol'  wife 's  a-waitin'  me  — 

Why,  what  I  keer  fu'  stingin'  bias', 

I  see  huh  windah  light  at  las'. 


A  LOVE  LETTER 


OH,  I  des  received  a  letter  f 'om  de 
sweetes'  little  gal ; 

Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 

She 's  my  lovely  little  sweethaht  an' 
her  name  is  Sal : 

Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 

She  writes  me  dat  she  loves  me  an' 

she  loves  me  true, 
She  wonders  ef  I  '11  tell  huh  dat  I 

loves  huh,  too ; 
An'  my  h'aht  's  so  full  o'  music  dat 

I  do'  know  what  to  do  ; 
Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 


8 


I  got  a  man  to  read  it  an'  he  read 
it  fine ; 

Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 

Dey  ain'  no  use  denyin'  dat  her  love 
is  mine ; 

Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 
But  hyeah  's  de  t'ing  dat 's  puttin'  me 

in  such  a  awful  plight, 
I  t'ink  of  huh  at  mornin'  an'  I  dream 

of  huh  at  night ; 

But  how 's  I  gwine  to  cou't  huh  w'en 
I  do'  know  how  to  write  ? 
Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 


Dl 


My  h'aht  is  bubblin'  ovah  wid  de 
t'ings  I  want  to  say ; 

Oh,  my ;  oh,  my. 

An'  dey  's  lots  of  folks  to  copy  what 
I  tell  'em  fu'  de  pay ; 
Oh,  my  ;  oh,  my. 


But  dey  's  t'ings  dat  I 's  a-t'inkin'  dat 


is  only  fu'  huh  eahs, 
An'  I  couldn't  lu'n  to  write  'em  ef 

I  took  a  dozen  yeahs  ; 
So  to  go  down  daih  an'  tell  huh  is  de 

only  way,  it  'peahs  ; 


PUTTIN' THE  BABY 
AWAY 


ElGHT  of  'em  hyeah  all  tol'  an'  yet 
Dese  eyes  o'  mine  is  wringin'  wet ; 
My  haht  's  a-achin'  ha'd  an'  so', 
De  way  hit  nevah  ached  befo' ; 


My  soul 's  a-pleadin',  "  Lawd,  give 

back 

Dis  little  lonesome  baby  black, 
Dis  one,  dis  las'  po'  he'pless  one, 
Whose  little  race  was  too  soon  run." 

Po'  Little  Jim,  des  fo'  yeahs  ol' 
A-layin'  down  so  still  an'  col'. 
Somehow  hit  don'  seem  ha'dly  faih, 
To  have  my  baby  layin'  daih 
Wi'dout  a  smile  upon  his  face, 
Wi'dout  a  look  erbout  de  place ; 
He  ust  to  be  so  full  o'  fun, 
Hit  don'  seem  right  dat  all's  done, 
done. 


Des  eight  in  all,  but  I  don'  caih, 
Dey  wa'nt  a  single  one  to  spaih  ; 
De  worl'  was  big,  so  was  my  haht, 
An'   dis    hyeah    baby   owned    hit's 

paht ; 
De  house  was  po',  dey  clothes  was 

rough, 
But  daih  was  meat  an'  meal  enough  ; 


2! 


An'  daih  was  room  fu'  little  Jim  ; 
Oh  !  Lawd,  what  made  you  call  fu' 

him  ? 

It  do  seem  monst'ous  ha'd  to-day, 
To  lay  dis  baby  boy  away ; 
I  'd  lu'ned  to  love  his  teasin'  smile, 
He  mought  o'  des  been  lef '  erwhile  ; 
You  wouldn't   t'ought   wid   all  de 

folks 
Dat's  roun'  hyeah  mixin'  teahs  an' 

jokes, 

De  Lawd  u'd  had  de  time  to  see 
Dis  chile  an'  tek  him  'way  f 'om  me. 

But  let  it  go,  I  reckon  Jim 
'LI  des  go  right  straight  up  to  Him 
Dat  took  him  f 'om  his  mammy's  nes' 
An'  lef  dis  achin'  in  my  breas', 


An'  lookin'  in  dat  fathah's  face 
An'    'memberin'    dis   lone    sorrerin' 

place, 
He  '11  say,  "  Good  Lawd,  you  ought 

to  had 
Do  sumpin'  fu'  to  comfo't  dad  !  " 


ADVICE 


W'EN  you  full  o'  worry 

'Bout  yo'  wo'k  an'  sich, 
Wen  you  kind  o'  bothahed 

Case  you  cain't  get  rich, 
An'  yo'  neighboh  p'ospah 

Past  his  jest  desu'ts, 
An'  de  sneer  of  comerds 

Stuhs  yo'  haht  an'  hu'ts, 
Des  don'  pet  yo'  worries, 

Lay  'em  on  de  she'f, 
Tek  a  little  trouble 

Brothah,  wid  yo'se'f. 


Ef  a  Men'  comes  mou'nin' 

'Bout  his  awful  case, 
You  know  you  don'  grieve  him 

Wid  a  gloomy  face, 
But  you  wrassle  wid  him, 

Try  to  tek  him  in  ; 
Dough  hit  cracks  yo'  features, 

Law,  you  smile  lak  sin. 
Ain't  you  good  ez  he  is  ? 

Don'  you  pine  to  def ; 
Tek  a  little  trouble 

Brothah,  wid  yo'se'f. 

Ef  de  chillun  pestahs, 

An'  de  baby 's  bad, 
Ef  yo'  wife  gits  narvous, 

An'  you  're  gettin'  mad, 
Des  you  grab  yo'  boot- strops, 


Hoi'  yo  body  down, 
Stop  a-tinkin'  cuss-w'rds, 

Chase  away  de  frown, 
Knock  de  haid  o'  worry, 

Twell  dey  ain'  none  lef ' ; 
Tek  a  little  trouble, 

Brothah,  wid  yo'se'f. 


DREAMIN'    TOWN 


C/OME  away  to  dreamin'  town, 

Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Whaih  de  skies  don'  nevah  frown, 

Mandy  Lou  ; 

Whaih  de  streets  is  paved  with  gol', 
Whaih  de  days  is  nevah  col', 
An'  no  sheep  strays  f  'om  de  fol', 

Mandy  Lou. 

Ain't  you  tiahed  of  every  day, 

Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Tek  my  han'  an'  come  away, 

Mandy  Lou, 

To  de  place  whaih  dreams  is  King, 
Whaih  my  heart  hoi's  everyt'ing, 
An'  my  soul  can  allus  sing, 

Mandy  Lou. 


Come  away  to  dream  wid  me, 

Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Whaih  our  hands  an'  hahts  are  free, 

Mandy  Lou ; 

Whaih  de  sands  is  shinin'  white, 
Whaih  de  rivahs  glistens  bright, 
In  dat  dreamland  of  delight, 
Mandy  Lou. 


Come  away  to  dreamin'  town, 

Mandy  Lou,  Mandy  Lou, 
Whaih  de  fruit  is  bendin'  down 

Des  fu'  you. 

Smooth  your  brow  of  lovin'  brown, 
An'  my  love  will  be  its  crown  ; 
Come  away  to  dreamin'  town, 

Mandy  Lou. 


SCAMP 


/VlN'T  it  nice  to  have  a  mammy 

Wen  you  kin'  o'  tiahed  out 
Wid  a-playin'  in  de  meddah, 

An'  a-runnin'  roun'  about 
Till  hit 's  made  you  mighty  hongry, 

An'  yo'  nose  hit  gits  to  know 
What  de  smell  means  dat  's  a-comin' 

F'om  de  open  cabin  do'  ? 
She  wash  yo'  face, 
An'  mek  yo'  place, 

You 's  hongry  as  a  tramp  ; 
Den  hit 's  eat  you  suppah  right  away, 

You  sta'vin'  little  scamp. 

Wen  you 's  full  o'  braid  an'  bacon, 
An'  dey  ain't  no  mo'  to  eat, 

An'  de  lasses  dat 's  a-stickin' 
On  yo'  face  ta'se  kin'  o'  sweet, 


Don'  you  t'ink  hit 's  kin'  o'  pleasin' 

Fu'  to  have  som'body  neah 
Dat  '11  wipe  yo'  han's  an'  kiss  you 
Fo'  dey  lif  you  f  om  yo'  eheah  ? 
To  smile  so  sweet, 
An'  wash  yo'  feet, 
An'  leave  'em  co'l  an'  damp ; 
Den  hit 's  come  let  me  undress  you, 

now 
You  lazy  little  scamp. 

Don'  yo'  eyes  git  awful  heavy, 
An'  yo'  lip  git  awful  slack, 

Ain't  dey  som'p'n'  kin'  o'  weak'nin' 
In  de  backbone  of  yo'  back  ? 


Don'  yo'  knees  feel  kin'  o'  trimbly, 

An'  yo'  haid  go  bobbin'  roun', 
Wen  you  says  yo'  "  Now  I  lay  me," 
An'  is  sno'in'  on  de  "  down"  ? 
She  kiss  yo'  nose, 
She  kiss  yo'  toes, 
An'  den  tu'n  out  de  lamp, 
Den  hit 's  creep  into  yo'  trun'le  baid, 
You  sleepy  little  scamp. 


OPPORTUNITY 


GRANNY'S  gone  a-visitm', 

Seen  huh  git  huh  shawl 
Wen  I  was  a-hidin'  down 

Hime  de  gyahden  wall. 
Seen  huh  put  her  bonnet  on, 

Seen  huh  tie  de  strings, 
An'  I 's  gone  to  dream  in'  now 

'Bout  dem  cakes  an'  t'ings. 

On  de  she'f  behime  de  do'  — 

Mussy,  what  a  feas' ! 
Soon  ez  she  gits  out  o'  sight, 

I  kin  eat  in  peace. 
I  bin  watchin'  fu'  a  week 

Des  fu'  dis  hyeah  chance. 
Mussy,  w'en  I  gits  in  daih, 

1 11  des  sholy  dance. 


Lemon  pie  an'  gingah-cake, 

Let  me  set  an'  t'ink  - 
Vinegah  an'  sugah,  too, 

Dat  '11  mek  a  drink  ; 
Ef  dey  's  one  t'ing  dat  I  loves 

Mos'  pu'ticlahly, 
It  is  eatin'  sweet  t'ings  an' 

A-drinkin'  Sangaree. 

Lawdy,  won'  po'  granny  raih 
Wen  she  see  de  she'f ; 

Wen  I  t'ink  erbout  huh  face, 
I 's  mos'  'shamed  myse'f. 


Well,  she  gone,  an'  hyeah  I  is, 


Back  behime  de  do  — 
Look  hyeah !  gran'  's  done  'spected 

me, 
Dain't  no  sweets  no  mo'. 


Evah  sweet  is  hid  erway, 

Job  des  done  up  brown ; 
Pusson  t'ink  dat  someun  t 'ought 

Dey  was  t'eves  erroun' ; 
Dat  des  breaks  my  haht  in  two, 

Oh  how  bad  I  feel ! 
Des  to  t'ink  my  own  gramma 

B'lieved  dat  I  'u'd  steal ! 


A  SUMMER  NIGHT 


SuMMAH  is  de  lovin  time- 

Don'  keer  what  you  say. 
Night  is  allus  peart  an'  prime, 

Bettah  dan  de  day. 
Do  de  day  is  sweet  an'  good, 

Birds  a-singin'  fine, 
Pines  a-smellin'  in  de  wood,  - 

But  de  night  is  mine. 

Rivah  whisperin'  "  howdy  do," 

Ez  it  pass  you  by  - 
Moon  a-lookin'  down  at  you, 

Winkin'  on  de  sly. 
Frogs  a-croakin'  f  om  de  pon', 

Singin'  bass  dey  fill, 
An'  you  listen  way  bey  on' 

OF  man  whippo'will. 


Hush  up,  honey,  tek  my  han' 
Mek  yo'  footsteps  light ; 

Somep'n'  kin'  o'  hoi's  de  Ian' 
On  a  summah  night. 


Somep'n'  dat  you  nevah  sees 

An'  you  nevah  hyeahs, 
But  you  feels  it  in  de  breeze, 

Somep'n'  nigh  to  teahs. 

Somep'n'  nigh  to  teahs  ?  dat 's  so  ; 

But  hit 's  nigh  to  smiles. 
An'  you  feels  it  ez  you  go 

Down  de  shinin'  miles. 
Tek  my  han',  my  little  dove  ; 

Hush  an'  come  erway  — 
Summah  is  de  time  fu'  love, 

Night-time  beats  de  day  ! 


THE   OLD  CABIN 


r\ 

I 


i 


IN  de  dead  of  night  I  sometimes 

Git  to  t'inkin'  of  de  pas', 
An'  de  days  w'en  slavery  belt  me 

In  my  mis'ry  —  ha'd  an'  fas'. 
Dough  de  time  was  mighty  tryin', 

In  dese  houahs  somehow  hit  seem 
Dat  a  brightah  light  come  slippin' 

Thoo  de  kivahs  of  my  dream. 

An'  my  min'  fu'gits  de  whuppins, 

Draps  de  feah  o'  block  an'  lash, 
An'  flies  straight  to  somep'n'  joyful 

In  a  secon's  light'nin'  flash. 
Den  hit  seems  I  see  a  vision 

Of  a  dearah  long  ago 
Of  de  childern  tumblin'  roun'  me 

By  my  rough  ol'  cabin  do'. 


Talk  about  yo'  go'geous  mansions 

An'  yo'  big  house  great  an'  gran', 
Des  bring  up  de  fines'  palace 

Dat  you  know. in  all  de  Ian'. 
But  dey  's  somep'n'  dearah  to  me, 

Somep'n'  faihah  to  my  eyes 
In  dat  cabin,  less  you  bring  me 

To  yo'  mansion  in  de  skies. 


I  kin  see  de  light  a-shinin' 

Thoo  de  chinks  atween  de  logs, 
I  kin  hyeah  de  way-off  bayin' 

Of  my  mastah's  huntin'  dogs, 
An'  de  neighin'  of  de  hosses 

Stampin'  on  de  ol'  bahn  flo', 
But  above  dese  soim's  de  laughin' 

At  my  deah  ol'  cabin  do'. 


-- 


<s* 

i 


We  would  gethah  daih  at  evenin', 

All  my  frien's  'u'd  come  erroun', 
An'  hit  wan't  no  time,  twell,  bless 
you, 

You  could  hyeah  de  banjo's  soun'. 
You  could  see  de  dahkies  dancin' 

Pigeon- wing  an'  heel  an'  toe,  - 
Joyous  times  I  tell  you  people 

Roun'  dat  same  ol'  cabin  do'. 

Wti&£ifcft 


But  at  times  my  t'oughts  gits  saddah, 

Ez  I  riccolec'  de  folks, 
An'  dey  frolickin'  an'  talkin', 

Wid  dey  laughin'  an'  dey  jokes. 


An'  hit  hu'ts  me  w'en  I  membahs 
Dat  I  '11  nevah  see  no  mo' 

Dem  ah  faces  gethahed  smilin' 
Roim'  dat  po'  ol'  cabin  do'. 


PRINTED  IN  AUGUST,  1905,  BY  THE 
UNIVERSITY  PRESS,  CAMBRIDGE,  U.S.A. 
FOR  DODD,  MEAD  &  CO.,  NEW  YORK 


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